Ergonomic laptop computer support assembly

ABSTRACT

An ergonomic laptop computer support assembly comprises a wheeled base to which a supporting arm assembly in the form of a pair of pantograph arms is rotatably attached. A pivot arm is pivotally attached at one end to the free end of the supporting arm assembly for pivoting in a horizontal plane. A laptop computer-mounting platform is double pivotally attached along one edge to the free end of the pivot arm. Thus, the mounting platform can be selectively pivoted or swung in a horizontal plane and also selectively tilted at a desired angle relative to horizontal. In use, a laptop computer is mounted to the mounting platform and can be positioned at any desired location and orientation for comfortable and convenient use by a user sitting or reclining in a chair.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention disclosed in this provisional patent applicationrelates generally to computer accessories and more specifically toaccessories for enhancing the use of laptop computers.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The use of compact portable laptop computers such as, forexample, the IBM® Thinkpad®, has become more and more prevalent inrecent years. Reasons for the increasing popularity and use of laptopcomputers are many, but include their ever decreasing size and weight,their constantly increasing reliability and compatibility, the fact thatlaptops may be carried easily on business trips and the like, and thegeneral convenience of having the power of a full featured computer withimportant software and data files wherever one may go. For these andother reasons, the use of laptop computers is expected to continue togrow in the foreseeable future.

[0005] Because of their small size and weight, many users of laptopcomputers prefer to use their computers, particularly when away from theoffice, while sitting in a comfortable chair or reclining in an easychair. In such situations, it often is necessary that the computer besupported on the user's lap. However, despite the term “laptop,” laptopcomputers can be anything but convenient to use while resting on the lapfor a variety of reasons. For instance, the screen and keyboard of thecomputer in many cases are not positioned at an optimum distance forviewing and typing when the computer is resting on the lap of a user.There also is no convenient way to adjust the angle of the keyboard foroptimum use when the computer rests on the lap and one usually has tomake do with an awkward or uncomfortable angle. Further, since the lapof a user inherently is an unstable platform, a laptop computer restingthere tends to rock and move during use, which can be frustrating.Obviously, a user's lap provides no surface that will accommodate theuse of a traditional mouse, and a user is confined to use of thegenerally more cumbersome tactile mouse feature provided with mostlaptop computers. Finally, if a user needs to get up from his or herchair to retrieve materials or take a break, the laptop computer and anyconnections such as a power supply cable or phone line must be carefullymoved to a secure location. Moving the laptop and its connections can befrustrating and creates a risk that the laptop will be droppedaccidentally or that the user or someone else will trip over or becometangled in a connection wire. For the forgoing and other reasons, usersof laptop computers generally try to avoid resting them in their lapsbut prefer instead a sturdier platform such as a table, the fold downtray top of an airline seat, or other stable surface.

[0006] Even when using a laptop computer at the office or in a moreformal business setting, it is not always easy to locate and orient thecomputer at the optimal location and angle for comfortable use.Generally, one is limited to placing the laptop computer on the flatsurface of a desk or its return and must make do with the resultingplacement and orientation of the computer. In addition, some users whomay use their computers infrequently during the workday may prefer notto have significant desk space permanently dedicated to a laptopcomputer.

[0007] In some cases, it is preferable to type or otherwise use a laptopcomputer in the office while reclining in a comfortable position in anoffice chair rather than sitting up straight to use a desk born laptopcomputer. However, this more comfortable way to use a laptop computergenerally is precluded in the office because the computer would have tobe rested in the user's lap with all the problems and inconveniencesdiscussed above relative to such use.

[0008] In other cases, a user may wish or be required to use a laptopcomputer while lying in a prone position in bed. For instance, the usermay be permanently or temporarily confined to a bed. In these cases,there simply has been no convenient way to support the laptop computerfor use.

[0009] Thus, a need exists for an apparatus designed to allow thecomfortable and convenient use of a laptop computer while sitting orreclining in a comfortable chair or while sitting in a more comfortableposition in an office chair. Such an apparatus should be portable andallow the laptop computer to be positioned at any desired locationrelative to the user and oriented at any desired angle so that thelaptop computer can be located and oriented easily and at the mostconvenient position for the user. Further, the apparatus should allowthe laptop computer to be displaced easily and safely when the userneeds to get up from his chair and should be usable by infrequentcomputer users in the office to free up desk space when not using theirlaptop computers. It is to the provision of an apparatus that addressesall of these needs and otherwise solves the problems of the prior artthat the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Briefly described, the present invention, in a preferredembodiment thereof, comprises an ergonomic laptop computer supportassembly for locating and orienting a laptop computer for easy andconvenient use while sitting or reclining in a chair. In oneconfiguration, the assembly comprises a base unit having an arrayradially extending legs provided with casters for rolling across thefloor. A vertically adjustable stanchion is mounted to and extendsupwardly from the apex of the legs and is capped with a mounting plate,which preferably is rotatable through a full 360 degrees about avertical axis. An adjustable supporting arm assembly in the form of apair of tensioned pantograph arms is mounted at one end to the rotatablemounting plate atop the stanchion and extends to a free end. The freeend of the supporting arm assembly is thus rotatable about the axis ofrotation of the mounting plate and can be moved radially toward and awayfrom the vertical stanchion as well as up and down by virtue of thepantograph arm structure.

[0011] A pivot arm is attached at one end to the free end of thesupporting arm assembly and preferably is pivotable through 360 degreesabout a vertical axis extending through its point of attachment. Alaptop computer-mounting platform is generally rectangular in shape andis mounted along one of its sides to the free end of the pivot arm. Themounting platform is secured to the free end of the pivot arm such thatthe mounting platform can be pivoted about a vertical axis relative tothe pivot arm and also rotated about a horizontal axis to tilt themounting platform at a desired angle relative to horizontal. The laptopcomputer mounting platform is shaped and sized to receive and support alaptop computer and is provided with means for releasably locking thelaptop computer in place on the mounting platform.

[0012] In use, a laptop computer is positioned and locked into place onthe mounting platform. Because of the pivotal attachments of the variouselements of the invention as described above and because of the actionof the pantograph arms, the laptop computer, once positioned and lockedin place, can easily be positioned at any desired vertical location andoriented at any desired angle simply by grasping the computer mountingplatform and moving and tilting it as needed. Further, the entireassembly can be rolled on the floor by virtue of its casters to anydesired location.

[0013] With the forgoing in mind, it will be seen that a user may mounthis or her laptop computer to the mounting platform of the presentinvention, roll it to the side of an easy chair of office chair, sit ina reclined or otherwise comfortable position in the chair, and positionand orient the laptop computer at the optimum location and angle fortyping. The computer is then used in the normal way to perform work asneeded. If the user needs to get up from his chair temporarily, thecomputer is simply pushed to the side and may be repositioned easilywhen work is resumed. When work is complete or it is desired to pack andtransport the laptop computer, the computer may simply be released fromthe mounting platform and the computer support assembly rolled to astorage location.

[0014] In other embodiments of the computer support assembly of thisinvention, the pantograph arms may be mounted to a rolling file cabinetrather than a vertical stanchion so that files and other items that maybe needed while working on the computer are conveniently located foraccess. In yet another embodiment, the pantograph arms are mounted to awall or other surface adjacent to the office desk of a user. With thislater embodiment, infrequent computer users may position their laptopcomputer on or over a desk for use when it is needed and move it out ofthe way to free the desktop when the computer is not needed.

[0015] Thus, a laptop computer support assembly is now provided thataddresses successfully all of the problems and shortcomings of the priorart. The assembly allows a laptop computer user to use a laptop computerconveniently while sitting or reclining in a comfortable position invirtually any chair, allows the computer to be optimally positioned andoriented for use, and allows the computer to be moved out of the waysafely and easily when the user needs to get up from his or her chair.These and other features, objects, and advantages of the supportassembly of this invention will become more apparent upon review of thedetailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing figures, which are briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a photograph of an ergonomic laptop computer supportassembly that embodies principles of the present invention in apreferred form.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating one possibleconfiguration of a computer-mounting platform that embodies principlesof the invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a computer support assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the computer support assemblyillustrated in FIG. 3.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an ergonomic laptop computersupport assembly that embodies principles of the invention in analternate form.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an ergonomic laptop computersupport assembly that embodies principles of the invention in yetanother alternate form.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view illustrating one embodiment ofthe computer mounting platform of the invention and showing a laptopcomputer secured thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring now in more detail to the drawing figures, in whichlike numerals refer where appropriate to like parts throughout theseveral views, FIG. 1 is a photograph of a laptop computer supportassembly that embodies principles of the invention. The assembly 11 isshown positioned adjacent a chair 12 and ottoman 13 as it might appearwhen positioned for use. The chair 12 may be any type of chair in whicha user might sit or recline while working on his or her computer,including lounge chairs, office chairs, and the like.

[0024] The assembly 11 includes a base 14, which, in this embodiment, isconfigured as an array of radially extending legs 16 projecting from acentral hub. Each of the legs 16 is provided on its free end with arolling caster 17 so that the base and thus the entire assembly isfreely rollable across a floor to locate the assembly as needed. Avertical stanchion 18 extends upwardly from the hub of the base andincludes a lower section 19 and an upper section 21. The upper section21 is telescopically mounted in the lower section 19 for selectivevertical positioning thereof.

[0025] A locking mechanism, illustrated as a screw lock 22 in FIG. 1, isprovided for locking the upper section 21 of the vertical stanchion 18in a desired vertical position relative to the lower section 19. While ascrew lock 22 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as the locking mechanism, it willbe understood that a variety of mechanisms for fixing the verticalposition of the upper section 21 of the stanchion may be employedincluding pneumatic or hydraulic adjusters. Alternatively, the stanchionmay not be vertically adjustable at all in some embodiments, in whichcase no locking mechanism is necessary. The vertical stanchion 18 iscapped by a mounting plate 23, which preferably but not necessarily isrotatable through a complete 360° angle about a vertical axis.

[0026] An adjustable supporting arm assembly 24 has a first end 25 thatis secured to the mounting plate 23 atop the stanchion 18 and extends toa free end 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustable supportingarm assembly 24 is seen to comprise a pair of conventional pantographarms 26 tensioned by a pair of tensioning springs 27. While tensionedpantograph arms are preferred because of their reliability and ease ofoperation, it should be understood that a variety of equivalentmechanisms may be substituted and all such mechanisms are considered tobe equivalent to the pantograph arms illustrated in FIG. 1.Conventionally, the supporting arm assembly 24 provides for selectiveadjustment of the free end 28 thereof both horizontally toward and awayfrom the vertical stanchion 18 and vertically.

[0027] A pivot arm 29 is attached at one end to the free end 28 of theadjustable supporting arm assembly 24 and extends therefrom to a freeend. Preferably, the pivot arm 29 is attached to the supporting armassembly by means of a rotating connection such that the pivot arm canbe pivoted through a predetermined angle, preferably 360 degrees, in ahorizontal plane and about a vertical axis extending through its pointof attachment to the supporting arm assembly. However, in some cases,the pivot arm may not pivot and such a configuration is considered to bewithin the scope of the invention.

[0028] A laptop computer-mounting platform 31, described in more detailbelow, is generally rectangular in shape and is attached along one edgeto the free end of the pivot arm 29. In the preferred embodiment, themounting platform 31 is secured to the pivot arm in such a way that themounting platform can be swung in a horizontal plane and also rotatedabout a horizontal axis extending through its attachment point to tiltthe mounting platform 31 to any desired angle relative to horizontal. Inthis way, a laptop computer mounted on the mounting platform can beoriented at an optimal angle for use by a user sitting in a chair 12.

[0029]FIG. 2 illustrates in more detail one possible configuration of alaptop computer-mounting platform according to the invention. Themounting platform 31 is secured at 36 to the free end of pivot arm 29.In this illustration, the mounting platform 31 has a base 34, a raisedforward edge 32, which may be shaped to define a rest for a user's handswhile typing, and a raised rear edge 33. However, the mounting platformmay take on any of a variety of configurations different from thatillustrated in FIG. 2 and any such configuration is deemed to be withinthe scope of the invention. For example, the mounting platform may beprovided with a mouse pad that may or may not be retractable into themounting platform. Obviously, many such configurations may be conceivedby those of skill in the art.

[0030] The computer-mounting platform 31 is double pivotally mounted tothe pivot arm 29 such that it is tiltable to any desired angle asindicated by arrow 37 and also swingable in a horizontal plane, whichwould be a plane extending out of the page in FIG. 2. Further, becauseof the pantograph arms 26, the mounting platform 31 can be movedvertically to any desired location as indicated by arrow 38 as well ashorizontally to any desired location as indicated by arrow 39.Accordingly, complete versatility in positioning and orienting themounting platform 31 and, consequently, a laptop computer securedthereto, is provided.

[0031]FIG. 3 illustrates the invention in a side elevational view. Aspreviously described, the laptop computer support assembly includes abase 14 formed from an array of legs 16 provided with casters 17. Avertical stanchion 18 having a lower section 19 and a verticallyadjustable telescoping upper section 21 extends upwardly from the base14 and is capped with a mounting plate 23, which preferably rotatesabout a vertical axis, as indicated by the phantom lines, through a 360degree angle. Adjustable supporting arm assembly 24 comprising, in theillustrated embodiment, a pair of pantograph arms 26 tensioned withtensioning springs 27, is secured at one end 25 to the mounting plate 23and extends to free end 28. Pivot arm 29 is pivotally attached to thefree end 28 of the supporting arm assembly 24 and is pivotable about avertical axis extending through its attachment point as indicated by thephantom lines, preferably through a 360 degree angle.

[0032] Laptop computer mounting platform 31 is mounted along one edge tothe free end of the pivot arm 29 with a double pivoting attachment,generally indicated at 35. When attached in this way, the mountingplatform 31 can be pivoted about a vertical axis, as indicated byphantom lines, in a horizontal plane extending out of the page in FIG.3. The platform 31 can also be tilted or rotated about a horizontalaxis, indicated by phantom lines just below the mounting platform inFIG. 3, to orient the platform at any desired angle relative to itshorizontal orientation.

[0033]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the support assembly of FIG. 3illustrating better some of the adjustability of the mounting platform31 and consequently a laptop computer mounted thereto. As in previouslydiscussed figures, the assembly 11 has a base of radially extending legs16 with casters 17, a vertical stanchion capped by a rotatable mountingplate 23. Adjusting arm assembly 24 formed by pantograph arms 26 ismounted at one end to the mounting plate 23 and extends to free end 28.Pivot arm 29 is pivotally secured to the free end 28 of the supportingarm assembly 24 and is thus selectively pivotable or swingable in ahorizontal plane, as indicated by arrows 58. Computer mounting platform31 is secured along one edge to the free end of pivot arm 29 as shownfor rotation of the platform in a horizontal plane about is point ofattachment, as indicated by arrows 57. The mounting platform 31 also istiltable about axis 61 to orient it at a desired angle, as describedabove.

[0034]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. Here, the adjusting arm assembly, pivot arm, andcomputer-mounting platform are as described above. However, instead ofbeing mounted to a legged base with vertical stanchion as in priorembodiments, the adjusting arm assembly is mounted to a wheeled cabinet43, which may be a file cabinet, an accessory cabinet, or otherwise.More specifically, the cabinet 43 is provided with a vertical track 75in which rides a mounting block 76, which can be selectively verticallypositioned and locked within the track 75. The end of the adjusting armassembly 24 in this embodiment is rotatably attached to the mountingblock 76 for selective rotation about a vertical axis extending throughits point of attachment. Thus, it will be seen that functionalitysimilar to that of the previous embodiments is provided with theadvantageous addition of a cabinet in which files, accessories, or otheritems that may be needed by a user are stored and readily accessible.

[0035]FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention for use in anoffice with the adjusting arm assembly 24 being mounted to a mountingblock 76 secured within a vertical track 75 attached to a wall 41. Thewall 41 may be a conventional wall or the wall of an office cubicle.With this embodiment, a user may position and orient his or her laptopon or above a desk for use and then easily move it out of the way whennot in use to preserve desk space.

[0036]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view illustrating a laptop computer51 mounted to the computer-mounting platform 31. Here, the platform 31is seen to have a forward edge or lip configured to capture the nose orfront edge of the laptop computer. The back end of the laptop computermay be secured to the platform 31 by any appropriate means 52 such as,for example, Velcro or a releasable clip assembly. In any event, thelaptop is securely but releasably mounted to the mounting platform 31 ina position for use by a user. Obviously, many and varying configurationsof mounting platforms may be conceived by those of skill in the art andan equal variety of mechanisms for securing a computer to the platformmay be used. All such platform configurations and securing schemesshould be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0037] With the various embodiments of the invention having beendescribed in detail, it will be seen that, in use of the presentinvention, a laptop computer user initially attaches his or her laptopcomputer to the mounting platform of the assembly, rolls the assembly toa location adjacent a chair, and takes a seat or reclines in the chair.The mounting platform is then grasped by the user and its vertical andhorizontal position adjusted so that the laptop computer isappropriately positioned in front of the user. Finally, the mountingplatform and computer are tilted to present the user with a keyboardoriented at the optimum angle for typing, whereupon the user may workcomfortably on his or her computer. If the user needs to get up for anyreason, the computer is simply swung safely to one side and pulled backinto position when work resumes. Thus, the user may work efficiently andcomfortably in a relaxed position without encountering the problems andshortcomings heretofore encountered when using laptop computers whilesitting or reclining in a chair.

[0038] The invention has been described herein in terms of preferredembodiments and methodologies. For example, the invention has beendescribed primarily in terms of its use while sitting in a chair.However, it is equally and perhaps more useful by persons confined to abed and such use is intended to be encompassed by the invention. Inaddition, while the invention has been described above with respect toits use for supporting a laptop computer, it will be understood that thepresent invention further can be used for and supporting various othertypes of devices, including various other types of user input andinterface devices, such as keyboards, pads data entry devices, and othersystems.

[0039] It further will be understood by those of skill in the art that awide range and variety of additions, deletions, and modifications to, aswell as substitution of equivalent elements in the illustratedembodiments may well be made by those of skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein.

1. An ergonomic laptop computer support assembly comprising a base, acomputer mounting platform for receiving and securing a laptop computer,and a supporting mechanism connecting said mounting platform to saidbase, said computer mounting platform being selectively positionablehorizontally and vertically and being selectively tiltable to positionand orient a laptop computer attached thereto at an optimum location foruse by a user seated or reclined in a chair located adjacent saidsupport assembly.